Created in the Image of God

Matthew 5:21-27; Deuteronomy 30:15-20

 

        I was blessed to be born into a family with two exceptional parents. So much of who I am was learned at the feet of those two saints. Dad put a baseball in my hand and a love for music in my ear. Mom exhibited patience and selflessness in ways I never recognized until later in life. Both surrounded themselves with books which became my gateway to worlds I could only imagine. 359 days out of the year I loved my parents.  But as you know most years of the Gregorian calendar contain six additional days.

        My Jr. and Sr. High  School operated on a two semester system divided into six week periods.  At the end of each six weeks a report card was sent home. I was a well rounded student. I loved anything round I could throw, hit, bounce, or serve. My parents appreciated that I always aced PE. They would have preferred similar effort in the other disciplines.

        The routine always went something like this. I would go to my father’s study and hand him my less than perfect results. He would slowly bring his hand to his chin, rub his face and then with incredible calmness say, “Son, do you honestly believe this was the best you could do?”

Trust me.  Both of us knew this was not a question.

When I read the latter part of the 5^th chapter of Matthew I feel as if Jesus is asking the same question to his disciples. Let’s quickly retrace the last two weeks. Jesus begins by lifting the spirits and dreams of his followers. “You will be blest when you mourn. You will be blest when you thirst for righteousness. You will be blest when you practice peacemaking. You will be blest when people say awful things about you. Have the courage to love folks and lift them up and God will insure your happiness.”

Then Jesus upped the ante. “You will be a light on a hill. You will set an example for everyone around you. The way you live and the way you treat both your friends and enemies will be commendable. People will be inspired by your moral courage. Go and show folks how to be a child of God.”

I can’t tell you how good those disciples must have felt. They started high fiving each other and exclaiming, “We got this. Let’s get down the mountain and start spreading the gospel message. We Are Number One.”

Well I guess Jesus and the disciples had been together about six weeks because before they could hustle down the mountain Jesus pulled out their report cards.

“Peter, did you know that anyone who commits a murder will be liable to judgment?”

“Yes I do. I think that’s fair. If you commit the crime you need to do the time.”

“Now Peter, to the best of my knowledge you haven’t killed anyone but occasionally your anger seems to be a bit over the top. I know you think it is righteous anger but it sounds a bit self-righteous to me. You are killing them with your mouth. Is this the best you can do?”

Then Jesus turned to James. “Jimmy, no one is accusing you of committing adultery but we all see the way you look at some of the women in crowd. Would you want someone glaring like that at your sister? Women are not objects for our amusement. They are a gift from God. Is this the best you can do?

Finally Jesus spoke to all the disciples. “Your word is sacred. I know you think gossip is inconsequential because everyone does it. Well it’s not insignificant to the person you are talking about. It is hurtful. Speak the truth but don’t exaggerate. Speak the truth, but don’t expand. Don’t even lie for a noble cause. Speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

The report cards had come out. The disciples knew they had not met the expectations of their Lord. Their bubble had been burst. Some were probably thinking this was the time to pack up and head back to their former lives. Jesus then confused them even more when he said. “Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

Sometimes I believe our greatest fault is setting our expectations too low. Our immediate answer to Jesus is, “Be serious! No one is perfect. Just by claiming perfection I expose my imperfections.”

Have you ever heard the phrase Imago Dei?  It is theological jargon which means the image of God. The Christmas stories are image of God events in which Luke and Matthew claim Jesus’ sacred birthright. The Gospel of John is a little more subtle, “The Word became God.” We are comfortable speaking of Jesus being in the image of God, but what about us? Aren’t we excluded from perfection? Jesus didn’t think so. Neither did the writer of Deuteronomy. Listen again to the words you heard earlier. “I have set before you life and death. Choose life that you might live.”

The writer of Deuteronomy believed in a God who valued the ability to choose. The story of Egypt and the wilderness is a wonderful example of the consistent ability of God’s righteousness choices. The story begins with a people in slavery who had forgotten the God of their ancestors. But God had not forgotten Israel. An abandoned people were not rescued because of their faith but rather because of the faithfulness of God. They were chosen as we are chosen. The children of Israel hesitated at the Red Sea because fear paralyzes dreams. But God showed them a way through the water. The wanderers hesitated in the desert, desiring slavery over freedom. God did not to give up on them. The people turned to idols even as the laws of God are being presented. But the rejected God would not reject the unfaithful. Every two steps toward the Promised Land were followed by a step backward. Then, with the Jordan River so close they could smell the sweet water, the descendents of Abraham were asked, “Will you choose life? Will you choose God? Will you strive for perfection?” The people hesitated and responded, “How is that possible?” The answer they received was, “Anything is possible. You are created in the image of God.”

When Jesus chose the 12 disciples he was choosing 12 people already chosen by God. Their potential was unlimited. They just didn’t know it.

We are no different. Because we have been created in the image of God nothing less than perfection is expected. We make excuses, just like the children of Israel. We are captivated by fears, just like the children of Israel. We put creature comforts ahead of ethics, just like the children of Israel. We stumble and bumble through life, just like the children of Israel. And God still responds by first, never giving up on us and second, never lowering the bar of God’s moral expectations.

Do we honestly believe we are doing the best we can do? Maybe the better question is do we really believe we are created in the image of God. If so, then the expectations and the possibilities are endless.  

To God be the glory. Amen.